Ruck It, Yeah! - Ranking The Rucks, 15 and 16
Ranking the teams' ruck divisions. The spines were rated on the site previously, and showed that team success is sometimes not directly associated with a great spine. The ruck spot is often the most important and influential position on the ground, and there does seem to be a direct correlation between having a great ruckman, or two, and being a successful team.
The numbers in brackets indicate where the players rated for total hitouts in 2007. For example, Pattison had the 22nd most hitouts in the AFL last season while Simmonds was 29th in the league for total hitouts.
15 Richmond
Troy Simmonds (29)
Adam Pattison (22)
Angus Graham (70)
They were one draft pick away, due to the priority pick rules, from getting the best ruckman in the draft. Once again they will go into battle with shorter, but more mobile, ruckmen than the opposition.
16 Adelaide
Rhett Biglands
Jonathon Griffin (27)
Ivan Maric (47)
It has been a long time since the Crows had Rehn and they ruled in the ruck. They will even miss Hudson and Clarke who provided a lot of hitouts in recent years. It is all up to Biglands, who returns after missing a year with injury, and he needs a huge season for Adelaide to compete in the ruck.
The numbers in brackets indicate where the players rated for total hitouts in 2007. For example, Pattison had the 22nd most hitouts in the AFL last season while Simmonds was 29th in the league for total hitouts.
15 Richmond
Adam Pattison (22)
Angus Graham (70)
They were one draft pick away, due to the priority pick rules, from getting the best ruckman in the draft. Once again they will go into battle with shorter, but more mobile, ruckmen than the opposition.
16 Adelaide
Rhett Biglands
Jonathon Griffin (27)
Ivan Maric (47)
It has been a long time since the Crows had Rehn and they ruled in the ruck. They will even miss Hudson and Clarke who provided a lot of hitouts in recent years. It is all up to Biglands, who returns after missing a year with injury, and he needs a huge season for Adelaide to compete in the ruck.
He has to be the favourite for the first coach to be replaced. But then again, the coach 12 months ago who was in that position made the finals and got a new contract, although Adelaide have much higher expectations now than the Kangaroos did a year ago.
Maybe they will surprise, but Simmonds is older and coming off some bad injuries, this could hurt his best asset which is his mobility around the ground. The Tigers just don't have enough height for their starting ruckmen, and you are correct in saying that Graham needs a while to improve his game.